jS  ii  \"r  4 

‘I 

pr^fl 

A  * 

-  * 
p 

-i 

p- 

*  p 

^  From  the  Rev.  W.  B.  SPRAGUE,  D.D.  Sept.  1839.  ^ 


LIBRARY 

®  h  c o  t  o  ^  i c a  I  J^emhumu 

PRINCETON.  N.S 
\t  Division  _ZT 

No.  Case, - ..ctZ.. - - 

No.  Shelf,  -.Upg ------- 

No.  Book, - - 


Sprague  Collection.  Vol.  ^  S^T 


. 

■ 


♦  ■ 


* 


it.'- 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https  ://arch  i  ve .  o  rg/detai  Is/g  reatdoctri  neof  aOObai  I 


'Great  Dcxfhme 


OF 

ATONEMENT. 

ILLUSTRATED  AND  REPRESENTED  IK  A  .SCRIP¬ 
TURAL  POINT  OF  LIGHT. 

-  '  •  '  -  J  .  L 

r  r  *  * v 


IN  A  LETTER  TO  A  FRIEND. 


WALPOLE ,  N.  H. 

Printed  at  the  Press  of  THOMAS  &  THOMAS, 

By  D,  and  T.  CARLISLE,  for  the  AUTHOR. 


f* 


* 

*  » 


'  r  ' 


V 

1 


I 


1 


THE 


GREAT  DOCTRINE 

OF 

A  T  0  N  E  M  E  N  T,  6?<r. 


Dear.  Brother, 

HE  that  would  have  friends  mu  ft  fhew  himfelf  friend. 

Iy_ :  I  remarked  in  a  letter  you  wrote  to  a  friend, 
your  friendly  objections  againft  my  fentiments,  on 
the  atonement  of  ChrifI  for  our  falvation;  and  your 
kind  endeavours  to  reffify  my  miffakes.  But  I  was 
not  fo  happy  as  to  gain  conviflion  ;  neither  does  it  ap¬ 
pear  that  you  underhand  my  ideas  on  the  fubjefl  ; — ■ 
therefore,  I  will  ifate  my  mind  on  the  doftrine  of 
Chriff’s  atonement  for  the  falvation  of  finful  men,  that 
you  may  have  the  advantage  to  remove  the  darknefs  of 
my  mind  ;  that  the  darknefs  may  pafs,  and  the  true 
light  fhine.  And  firff, 

God  the  Father,  angels  and  faints  afcribe  to  ChrifI 
the  honour  of  making  the  atonement. 

2dly.  ChrifI,  in  the  work  of  atonement,  never  exe¬ 
cuted  any  vengeance,  on  any  being  for  fin  ;  but  bore 
ail  affronts  and  injuries  from  finners,  without,  requit¬ 
ing  their  defects  upon  them. 

3dlj\  God  the  Father,  in  the  great  work  of  atone¬ 
ment,  is  no  more  confidered  as  executing  the  punifh- 
snent  of  fin  on  Chrift,  than  Chrift  is  confidered  as  ex¬ 
ecuting  the  puniihment  of  fin  on  finners,  when  dying 
on  the  crofs. 

4thly..  Atonement  did  not  confifl  in  punifhment  of 
fin,  nor  in  puniihment  at  all,  in  any  pofitive  fenfe. 

5!  lily. 


I 


[  4  1 

5*T)Ty.  Chrift  had  certain  conditions  to  fulfil  in  per- 
farming  the  great  work  of  atonement,  as  the  fecond" 
Adam  :  and  atonement  was  found  in  what  he  did  and 
performed  in  the  whole  of  it.  and  not  what  was  done 
to  him,  either  by  God-the  Father,  or  by  finners. 

6thly.  The  conditions  Chuff  had  to  fulfil  areas 
follow  ;  firfl.  he  humbled  himlelf  and  took  upon  him 
the  form  of  a  fervant  and  became  obedient  unto  death, 
even  the  death  of  the  crofs  ;  he' was  under  obligations 
to  y  ield  perfe£l  obedience  to  the  divine  law  :  and  be 
pure  and  perleCl  as  the  divine  throne  :  this  obedience 
God  the  Father,  and  God  the  Son,  knew  would  be  an 
occafion  to  raife  the  malice  and  rage  of  the  wicked  to 
that  degree,  they  would  murder  him  on  the  crofs. 

2 d i y .  Chrift  was  under  obligations  to  mainta:n  a 
conffant  exercife  of  love  to  God  and  man,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  ci  iginal  claims  of  the  divine  law; 
and  that  fponianeouily,  as  though  there  was-  no  evil  in 
the  univerfe,  or  fuffering  to  endure  ;  Chrifl  engaged 
in  the  work,  he  undertook  the  ftern  chafe,  and  recov¬ 
ered  the  fpoil.  Chriff,  our  faviour,  bore  all  the  fins 
cf  the  people,  even  unto  death,  as  a  pattern  of  patience 
and  humility,  and  that  love  which  is  the  fulfilling,  of 
the  law  in  perfection.  Chrift  bore  our  fins  in  his  own 
body  on  the  tree,  as  a  burden,  and  a  condition  of  trial, 
and  a  proof  of  the  perfection  of  his  mediaiorfhip  ;  and 
r  ot  to  he  confidered  an  execution  of  govei  nment,  pun- 
ifhing  fin  ;  Chrift  offered  his  life  a  facrifice  on  the 
crofs,  to  witnefs  to,  and  condemn  Adam’s  aCi  of  rebel¬ 
lion,  in  tranfgrefiion  of  the  divine  law  ;  for  fin  he  con¬ 
demned  fin  in  the  tlelh  :  in  this  he  gave  a  high  witnefs 
of  the  righteoufnefs  of  God's  g  jyernment  ;  in  this,  he 
honoured  the  Divine  Sovereignty,  in  {fating  his  gov¬ 
ernment  in  whatever  mode,  and  form  he  faw  fit  j  .a’fo 
he  vindicated  the  righteouf icfs  of  God’s  government 
in  the  plan  of  his  grace,  in  commanding  him  to  lay 
down  his  life;  for  this  was  a  law  of  government  as 
much  as  the  law  was  to  Adam  ;  therefore  1  do  not  fay 
in  vain,  tha-t  Chriil  offered  his  life  a  facrifice  on  the 
crofs  for  the  vindication  of  the  righteoufnels  of  God’s 
government  ;  while  1  deny  the  idea  of  juftice,  punifh- 


r  5  ] 

tng  ottr  fins  in  Chrifi,  in  weight  and  quantity  as  much: 
as  they  deferve  ;  and  while  I  deny  that  juftice  fought 
a  fatisfaftion  that  way,  it  was  not  a  punifhment  upon  us- 
Or  our  furety,that  procured  us  a  pardon,  or  effiedted  our 
redemption.  Law  andjn  Rice  ir.  punifhing  crimes  is  nev= 
er  confidered  fo  magnified  and  made  honourable,  as  to 
procure  blefTings  for  criminals  ;  it  juftice  is  confider- 
ed  as  punifhing  our  fins  in  Cbri  ft.  then  its  work  is  pun* 
ifhing  crimes  ;  and  if  its  operation  is  punifhing  crimes, 
t*he,divine  law  is  not  in  the  lea  ft  magnified  by  all  its 
work,  and  confequently  there  is  no  merit  in  the  death 
ot  Ctirift,  and  therefore  on  this  ground  our  falvation  is 
eternally  fufpended 

Law  and  juftice  have  an  eternal  affection  to  appro, 
bate  the  innocent  and  condemn  the  guilty,  neither  will 
they  alter  their  difpofition,  or  mode  of  conduct,  what, 
ever  event  takes  place  amongft  rebels. 

Juftice  did  not  take  an  active  partin  the  death  of 
Chrifi  in  punifhing  ;  but  eyed  the  vi£tim  with  impar- 
tial  attention,  and  Lid  amen  with  a  {mile  and  approba¬ 
tion,  at  the  love  and  grace,  truth  and  laithfulnefs  of  the 
fufrerer;  therefore  atonement  did  notconfift  in  the 
punifhment  of  fin  nor  the  pains  of  death,  but  in  a  holy- 
enduring  of  the  fufferings  for  righteoufnefs’  fake,  and 
fulfilling  the  conditions- of  trial  Bated  by  infinite  wifi, 
dom  through  the  (Length  of  love  and  nolinefs  ;  that 
love  and  holinefs,  that  reigned  in  the  heart  of  Chrifi, 
which  gave  him  {Length  of  vifilory  in  the  combat,  by. 
which  he  repelled  every  loe,  even  fin,  hell  and  death, 
that  is  the  fpirit  and  matter  of  atonement  ;  but  the  fuf- 
terings  oi  Chrifi  are  no  more  to  be  confidered  a  pun- 
ifhinent  of  the  fins. of  the  wicked  race  of  Adam,  than 
the  martyrdom  of  Stephen  is- to  be  confidered  a  puni  fit¬ 
ment  of  the  fins  of  the  world. 

Chrifi,  as  mediator,  is- reprefented  as  a  true  and  faith, 
ful  witnefs.  Now  the  work,  of  a  mediator  is  to  (late 
the  true  nature  of  the  c.ontroverfy  betwixt  two  contend*- 
ing  parties.  It' the  controverfiy  is  ftated  rightecufly, 
and  both  the  parties  agree  with  the  fiatement,  recon- 
ciliation  takes  place  ;  when  a  true  and  righteous  ftate= 
ment  is  made,  and  the  faulty  pai.ty  does  not  agree  with 


% 


c  6  ] 

it,  he  is  more  criminal  (till,  and  Juflice  is  more  di (Tatis- 
fied  with  him  than  before.  Chriff,  as  a  faithful  witnefs 
from  heaven,  dated  the  controversy  betwixt  God  and 
man  in  perfeflion,  to  the  fatisfafdion  and  pleafure  of  the 
divine  Father,  and  that 'to  the  facrificing  of  his  life  ; 
but  he  had  not  to  be  punifhed  for  our  fins,  by  the  di¬ 
vine  Father,  in  weight  and  quantity  as  much  as  they 
deferve  to  accomplifh  it. 

D  ear  Brother, 

I  will  give  you  a  fimilitude  that  will  lay  before  you 
my  idea  plainly  :  If  a  wife  and  good  king  had  a  num¬ 
erous  family  of  children  ;  they  all  revolted  from  his 
government  but  the  elder  fon  ;  committed  treafon  and 
fled  diftant  from  their  father’s  court  ;  their  rebellion 
flung  them  into  a  ficknefs  of  wild  phrenzy  and  difor- 
der  ;  the  elder  brother,  being  a  phyfician  of  perfect 
(kill  ;  the  father  propounds  to  him,  if  he  will  vifit  the 
rebellious,  take  his  refidence  among (1  them,  and  pre¬ 
pare  a  medicine  in  prefence  of  the  rebellious  family, 
which,  if  received  and  taken,  will  be  an  infallible  rem¬ 
edy  for  their  diforder;  remove  their  phrenzy ,  and  bring 
them  to  their  right  mind  ;  they  will  return  home  to 
their  father’s  courts,  confefs  their  fault, and  receive  par¬ 
don  ;  but  if  he  undertakes  it  he  muft  bear  all  bruifes 
and  injuries  while  amongfl  them,  with  perfe6!  meeknefs 
and  humility  ;  he  muff  bear  all  their  iniquities,  and 
not  avenge  the  wrong  ;  although  they  perfecute  him  e- 
ven  unto  death  ;  now  their  atonement  does  not  confift 
in  the  pains  and  bufferings  of  their  bcnefaftor,but  in  the 
medicine  and  remedy  provided  for  them  ;  now  Chriff 
provided  a  table  fpread,  a  table  ol  life  in  prefence  of 
his  foes  for  the  healing  of  their  fouls  ;  but  juflice  was 
not  employed  in  puoilhing  the  fins  of  rebels  in  Chriff 
for  the  healing  of  their  fouls. 

Now,  Sir,  I  will  turn  and  look  of  your  ffatement 
that  contains  your  obje&ions  againft  my  fentiments  : 
Vou  hold,  dear  Brother,  that  Chriff  has  fatisfied,  by 
his  obedience  and  death,  the  demands  of  divine  juflice 
for  our  fins;  in  my  turn,  1  deny  it  :  for,  if  Chriff  has 
fatisfied  juflice  by  his  obedience  and  death  for  my 
tors,  then  juflice  is  fatisfied  with  me  fully  and  com¬ 
pletely, 


pietely,  without  mercy  having  any  hand  in  the  matter  5 
and  it  will  be  an  affront  to  juftice  for  me  to  fuffer  any 
degree  of  punifhment  for  my  fins,  whatever  :  yea,  juf¬ 
tice  is  bound  to  fecure  me  from  any  fufferings  as  much 
as  it  is  the  elefl  angels  in  heaven  ;  yea,  as  much  as  it 
was  to  fecure  Chrift  from  fufferings  if  he  had  not  been 
under  that  law  which  we  had  tranfgreffed. 

But  it  is  an  idea  of  confufion  and  wild  diforder,  to 
fuppofe  that  Chri  ft,  being  under  that  law  that  we  had 
tranfgreffed,  that  death  was  his  defert  ;  or  that  juftice 
had  any  fuch  charge  agai.nft  him  ;  therefore  it  is  an  idle 
trifling  with  the  government  of  God,  and  with  his  at¬ 
tributes  to  reprefent  that  everjuftice  had  aright  to 
charge  Chrift  with  deferving  death  on  the  account  ox 
Fin  or  finners,  or  ever  purfue  him  as  punifhing  their 
fins  in  him;  or  that  juftice  is  anyways  fatisfied  for 
finners  in  the  death  and  fufferings  of  Chrift;  but  more 
augmented  with  diffatisfaffion  ;  for  their  crimes  were 
the  higheft  affront  to  juftice  poffibie. 

Hence  to  reprefent  that  our  fins  were  imputed  to 
Chrift,  and  that  juftice  punifhed  our  fins  in  Chrift,  ot 
that  juftice,  punifhing  Chrift  for  our  fins,  fatisfied  juf¬ 
tice,  is  a  doctrine  that  is  agreeable  to  every  wicked  heart 
among  the  wicked  race  of  Adam’s  guilty  family  ;  for 
there  is  nothing  more  agreeable  to  the  wicked  heart., 
than  to  caft  off  the  blame  of  their  wicked  conduct  upon 
fome  other  one,  and  to  have  them  punifhed  for  it  too  ; 
•  therefore  I  am  bold  to  conclude  that  the  d offline  is  a 
delufion,  and  a  wrong  representation  of  the  govern¬ 
ment  of  God. 

Again,  I  have  another  obfervation  to  make  on  your 
ftatement ;  you  tell  me  when  a  furety  undertakes. to 
pay  the  debt  of  another,  juftice  exafts  it  of  him  with 
the  fame  right  as  ol  the  fir fl  debtor  ;  1  allow  you  have 
made  a  juft  ftatement  in  the  form  of  commutative 
juftice. 

Now,  Sir,  we  will  try  to  fettle  the  queftion  ;  if  a 
furety  undertakes  to  pay  a  debt  for  another,  the  firft  is 
free;  and  it  the  debt  is  paid,  the  door  is  eternally  fhut 
againft  forgivenefs ;  and  the  debtor  is  everlaftingly  free 
without  acknowledging  any  grace  of  forgivenefs  in  the 

creditor. 


Creditor,  and  the  debtor  is  under  no  condemnation, 
neither  in  refpefl  of  the  debt  ;  it  is  a  delufion  to  pre¬ 
tend  he  is,  and  falfe  to  fay  that  any  juft  law  condemns 
him  about  the  matter,  whether  he  is  a  good  man  or  a 
bad  one  ;  therefore,  it  is  idle  for  any  body  to  talk  about 
a  debt  being  paid,  and  then  find  room  to  forgive  the 
fame  debt  too  ;  for  furely  there  is  no  room  for  an  ex- 
ercife  of  love  in  fuch  a  rafe  on  the  account  of  grace  in 
a  creditor  ;  if  we  would  attend  to  the  meaning  of 
feripture  inftead  of  images  formed  in  our  minds  from 
darkrefs,  relative  to  Chrift  paying  finners’ debts  ;  if 
Chrifl  undertook  topavtbe  finner’s  debt,  bis  work  was 
to  execute  upon  him  the  punifhment  of  his  crimes  ac¬ 
cording  to  law  and  juftice  ;  but  juftice  never  confiders 
itfelf  fatisfied  when  it  bas  a  work  to  do  in  punifning 
crimes  ;  for  crimes  are  an  objefil  of  its  difpieafure  ;  and 
punifhment  is  an  expreffmn  of  difpieafure,  and  not  of 
fatisfaffion  ;  we  are  told  in  Tarred  writ  that  the  wages  of 
fin  are  death  ;  and  wages  are  due  to  every  work,  wheth¬ 
er  it  be  good  or  bad  ;  and  to  pay  the  finner’s  debt  is  to 
punifh  him  with  death  ;  now,  kind  brother,  the  death, 
of  Chrift -was  not  the  wages  of  fin,  in  any  fenfe,  but  a 
gift  of  the  Father,  and  a  gift  of  Chrift,  with  all  the  fub- 
fequent  bleflings  flowing  therefrom  ;  if  it  bad  been  the 
wages  of  fin,  it  could  not  have  procured  one  ounce  of 
bleffing  for  one  Being  in  the  univetfe. 

It  was  not  the  work  of  juftice  in  the  death  of  Chrift, 
to  afif  by  way  of  diftribution  in  punifhing  ;  but  to  eye 
the  agent  and  determine  on  the  flipulated  conditions  of 
the  covenant  betwixt  the  parties  ;  if  Chrift  fulfilled  the 
conditions  of  engagement  under  all  the  fufferings  he 
had  to'  meet  with  from  finners,  juftice  was  fatisfied 
completely  in  the  fufterer  without  joining  with  the 
wicked  in  tormenting. 

I  firmly  conclude  that  you  believe,  as  well  as  I,  that 
God  is  a  being  of  infinite,  perfect  refilitude,  and  that 
his  government  and  conduff  is  perfett  as  bis  nature; 
but  our  difficulty  is  when  we  give  a  poitrait  of  what 
God  has  done;  our  do£irine,  our  defcription,  either 
your  dofilrine  or  mine  is  a  delufion  ;  to  command  your 
attention  to  the  fubjett  I  will  give  you  a  portrait  upon 


[  9  3 

tl'.e  divine  conftitution  of  grace,  eftablifhed  in  the  court 
of  Heaven.  We  have  the  following  ftatement  preferit- 
ed  to  view  (viz.)  God,  our  Creator,  calls  forth  his  fil'd 
born  fon,  the  heir  of  all  things,  and  fays  unto  him  ;  the 
new  created  inhabitants  of  yonder  world  fell  by  tranf- 
grefiion  ;  and  are  under  the  curfe  and  the  power  of 
death  tor  rebellion,  and  difobedience  to  my  law  ;  their 
ffate  is  eternally  deplorable,  if  an  aft  of  grace  is  not 
extended  to  them;  it  is  my  mind  to  extend  an  aft  of 
grace  to  them  to  the  honour  of  righteoufnefs  :  Hence 
we  will  fet  before  them  a  new  conllitution  of  govern¬ 
ment  by  a  fecond  man  in  hitman  nature,  afting  as  a 
fubjeft  of  obedience  in  perfeftion,  that  the  conduct:  of 
the  obedient  fubjeft,  and  the  conauft  of  the  fovereign 
may  be  viewed  before  all  worlds  ;  and  that  the  harmo¬ 
ny  betwixt  the  Creator  and  creatures  may  be  viewed 
in  its  beauty  and  glory  and  that  the  value  and  worth  of 
righteoufnefs  may  be  known  by  its  rewards,  in  a  ffrong- 
er  imprefiion  and  fenfation  than  ever  was  felt  by  crea¬ 
tures  before  ;  while  the  tranfaftion  lhali  be  a  high  wit- 
nefs  againff  Adam  and  his  guilty  race  for  their  rebell¬ 
ion  ;  and  to  the  end  that  the  perfeftion  of  order  and  the 
beauties  of  holinefs  may  appear  in  the  conftitution:  you, 
my  beloved  fon,  mull  be  put  on  a  condition  of  trial,  as 
the  father  and  head  of  the  redeemed  ;  as  Adam  was 
placed  under  a  condition  of  trial,  as  moral  head  of  ail 
his  pofferity  ;  and  the  claims  or  juft  ice,  truth,  right¬ 
eoufnefs,  mercy  and  grace  will  be  upon  you  for  the 
fulfilment  of  your  condition  of  trial,  that  each  one 
may  fhare  equal  honour  in  -the  divine  tranfaftion,  fo 
that  grace  may  reign  through  righteoufnefs  unto  eternal 
hie,  in  all  rhofe  of  the  rebels  that  confent  in,  and  agree 
with  the  con  flitution  of  righteoufnefs  wrought  out  by 
you  ;  therefore  1  command  you,  my  dear  Son,  to  take 
a  body  I  have  prepared  for  you,  and  go  down  into 
yonder  fallen  world,  and  be  born  ot  a  woman,  where 
you  will  be  incident  to  the  evils  they  have  introduced 
among  ft  them  by  their  rebellion  ;  and  while  you  feel 
the  evils  of  thleir  rebellion,  and  the  evils  of  their  majice 
1o  crucifixion  and  death,  you  mull  not  refiftj  but  mull 
die  with  humble  fubmifiion,  as  though  you  deferverl 
B  the 


C  10  ] 

the  fete  ;■  you  mu  ft  be  perfeftly  meek,  humble,  and 
patient,  full  of  benevolence  and  good  will  for  their 
we’hre,  even  onto  death  :  without  a  breach  in  one 
affe£fion  under  the  weight  ol  all  their  wrath  and  fin,  to 
the  forrow  cf  your  fouheven  unto  death.  While  their 
condufl  in  executing  death  upon  you  will  be  the  moft 
wicked  crime,  and  afi  of  injuftice  ever  perpetrated  ; 
ihus  you  rruft  fulfil  the  condition,  you  muft  give  your 
life  a  facrificeas  the  price  cf  their  redemption,  and  the 
highefi  work  of  righteoufnefs  my  heart  defires.  Now, 
my  beloved  fon,  afk  of  me  a  reward  equal  to  the  work 
I  have  commanded,  and  it  fhal!  be  granted,  and  it  fh-all 
he  given  you  ;  for  ycu  are  capable  of  knowing  what 
is  equal  33  well  as  I  ;  and  it  was  agreed  betwixt  the 
Father  and  the  Son,  that  Chrift  fhould  (hare  a  portion 
with  the  great,  and  divide  the  fpoil  with  theftrong; 
therefore  the  reward  promifed  Chrifi  was  to  have  the 
government  over  all  created  beings,  the  honour  of  be¬ 
ing  redeemer  of  his  people,  the  honour  of  being  their 
great  prophet,  the  honour  of  all  the  redeemed  to  be 
with  him  in  heaven,  acclamating  his,  praife  ;  the  hon¬ 
our  of  being  judge  at  the  la  It  grand  folemn  afiife  ;  he 
had  the  prornife  of  feeing  of  the  travail  of  his  foul  and 
being  f.itisfied  ;  the  beloved  fon,  full  of  duty,  and  zeal 
for  the  iather's  honour  and  glory .  faid,  I  confent  to  the 
eovenant,  it  is  written  in  the  volume  of  the  book;  !o  ! 
I  come  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God  ;  an  awful  folemnity 
d:  fluff  d  through  all  the  court ;  the  lather  called  for  the 
approbation  of  all  the  court  to  the  new  conftitution  ; 
that  it  might  go  forth  with  the  mutual  afTem  and  appro¬ 
bation  of  ail. 

For  thus  it  was  eflentially  neceffary  to  give  it  efficacy 
and  authority  ;  but  O,  the  folemn.  awlul  impreffion 
that  pervaded  the  minds  of  all  ;  there  was  filence  in 
court  tor  about  the  fpace  o*  half  an  hour,  for  there  was 
not  one  that  was  not  equally  concerned  in  the  g^and 
formation  of  the  new  and  gracious  conftitution  ;  then 
Jufiice  arofe  with  more  majefiy  in  couutenance  than 
that  ol  an  angel,  and  beckoned  for  audience  and  made 
reply,  as  follows  ;  1  think  that  whatever  is  done  in  court, 
(the  tic.il  ofcieft  of ,  attention  imuft  be  the  honour  and 

gjor.y. 


[  S'*  T 

glory  of  the  divine  Creator;  if  any  thing  is  done  that 
mars  the  divine  glory,  my  right  and  dignity  is  infringed’ 
upon  likewife  ;  for  juftice  and  judgment  are  the  habi-, 
ration  of  his  throne  ;  the  divine  law  faid  man  (hall  die, 
for  rebellion  ;  my  office  was  as  angry  judge  to  execute, 
the  fentence;  I  have  performed  m.y  office,  I  hive  ex¬ 
ecuted  on  file  the  righteous  fentence  of  the  law,  he  is- 
now  in  the  (fate  of  the  dead  :  I  have  no  more  to  do,  1 
cannot  plead  for  the  rebel,  he  fhares  a  juft  defert  ; 
But  I  would  obferve,  what  I  have  replied  is  not  out  of  a 
morofe  difpofition,  but  of  a  benevolent  concern  for  all 
ihe  court ;  I  am  as  benevolent  as  any  one  for  the  happU 
nefs  of  man,  in  a  way  of  righteoufnefs,  but  in  the  con¬ 
ftitution  framed  for  the  redemption  of  man,  Emmanuel 
is  to  die  and  fuffer  a  cruel  death  under  their  wicked 
hands,  and  that  will  raile  indignation  and  diftatisfabfion 
in  me,  to  a  double  height  ;  for  their  crimes  will  be 
greater  than  Adam’s  firft  tranfgrefii  m  ;  and  I  am  eter¬ 
nally,  engaged  forErnmanuel’s  welfare  ;  and  I  (ball  not 
alter  my  mind  :  let  all  thefe  matters  be  cleared  up  and 
reconciled,  and  I  arn  fatisfied  ;  then  Truth  arofe  and 
faid,  m.y  caufe  is  the  fame  with  Juftice  ;  let  matters  be 
adjufted  according  to  the  proposals  ol  juftice,  and  1  am 
fatisfied  then  Righteoufnefs  ftept  forth,  decked  with 
a  breallplate  ol  truth  !  his  countenance  refleRed  bright- 
nefs  above  the  eaftern  light.  He  held  the  feeptre  in 
his  hand  ;  his  words  were  as  determinate  as  the  con, 
clufions  ol  truth  ;  Righteoufnefs  obferved  he  had  al¬ 
ways  held  the  fceptie  in  his  hand,  and  had  always 
fwayed  the  fame  in  righteoufnefs  ;  when  angels  rebell¬ 
ed,  I  gave  my  voice  againft  them,  in  confining  them  in 
chains  of  darknefs  to  the  judgment  of  the  great  Day  ; 
when  man  rebelled  I  gave  my  voice  againft  him  in  the 
fentence  of  execution  ;  I  approbate  the  innocent  and 
condemn  the  guilty  ;  1  cannot  approve  any  confuta¬ 
tion  that  will  mat:  ray  beauty  ;  If  by  the  conftitution 
greater  luftre  can  be  added  to  my  name,  greater  g  jod 
brought  to  the  univerfe,  and  all  the  divine  attributes, 
have  a  more  giorious  dilplay,  and  mamleftation,  1  am 
faiisfieu  to  have  the  conftitution  put  into  execution  j 
then  Mercy  arofe.  to  fpeak,  and  her  countenance  lb  one 

with,. 


with  meeknefs  and  beauty,  and  fbe  ipoke  with  a  voire 
fufticient  to  melt  the  haidefl  heart ;  I  think,  faid  fhe,  I 
can  fee  liberty  by  the  conftitution  tonne  to  be  honour¬ 
ed  in  communicating  abroad  the  exceeding  riches  of 
my  mercy  ;  I  claim  honour  in  opening  the  (lores  of  my 
bounty,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  con  ftitution  ; 
tor  turely  it  will  be  more  to  the  honour  of  all  the  court 
for  me  to  ffiare  a  part  of  honour  in  the  vent  of  thecon- 
flitution,  than  to  let  fuch  treafures  as  mine  lie  eternal¬ 
ly  hidden  and  concealed  :  I  requeft  that  the  conflitu- 
tion  be  put  into  execution,  for  the  honour  of  my  name, 
and  for  the  benefit  of  the  miferable. 

Mercy’s  plea  bad  great  weight  in  the  council  ;  then 
Grace  ffept  forth  ;  a  bright  fplendor,  more  glorious 
than  the  fun,  indicated  the  light  vefliges  of  her  feet, 
and  her  words  dropt  as  balmy  as  the  dew  of  the  morn- 
ing,  and  an  energy  attended  her  voice,  that  bore  irri- 
preflion  on  all  the  court ;  (lie  faid,  with  arguments  that 
could  not  be  refilled,  fhe  oblerved,  that  no  one  in  the 
court  had  a  greater  right  to  be  honoured  than  fhe  ’ 
neither  would  there  be  any  operation  in  the  univerfe, 
that  will  refleff  greater  honour  upon  all  the  court  than 
for  grace  to  perform  her  afls  of  mercy,  in  pardoning 
criminals  according  to' the  new  con  ftitution  ;  and  fhe 
requefted  Wifdom  might  flep  forth  and  explain,  defin¬ 
itely,  the  nature,  meaning,  import  and  Vettitude  of  the 
new  conftitution,  to  the  fatisfaffion  of  all  the  Court. 

Now  with  folemn  proceflion  Wifdom  Heps  forth  be¬ 
fore  the  grand  anguft  council,  big  with  the  treafures  of 
wifdom,  as  the  woman’s  feed  that  Ihould  bruife  the  fer- 
pent's  head  ;  and  (he  opened  with  a  deportment  which 
evidenced  to  all  the  court,  that  fhedeliberated  wii+i  per- 
fetd  difcernment  every  part  of  the  conftitution  both 
as  to  its  nature  and  operation  ;  all  the  court  concluded 
they  fhould  now  refult  in  perlefl  harmony  and  agree¬ 
ment  ;  the  court  was  all  attention  to  hear  Wifdom’s 
determination  on  the  new  formed  conftitution  of  gov¬ 
ernment ;  and  fhe  began  the  leffon  and  her  language 
did  not  run  to  vvafte  ;  for  every  word  had  fome  mean¬ 
ing  with  it ;  fhe  obferved  that  God  the  creator  compiled 
the  conflituuon,  and  no  one  could  difpute  that  he  who 


[  «3  1 

had  power  to  create  had  no  right  to  govern  ;  and  ft 
was  his  right  to  rule  as  fovereign. 

2dly.  His  power,  wifdom,  juftice,  truth,  righteouG 
nefs,  mercy  and  grace  had  equal  place  in  his  nature,  all 
in  perfeHion  of  harmony  ;  fi>  that  it  is  impoffible  for 
him  to  make  a  mi  (take  in  government. 

3d ly  Wifdom  explained  every  part  of  the  conftitu- 
tion ;  the  firft  particular  was  the  death  of  Emmanuel, 
and  how  it  was  to  be  viewed  by  the  court. 

And  firft,  no  one  of  the  court  was  to  have  any  hand  in 
executing  death  on  Emmanuel  ;  nor  ftrike  him  with  a 
wound  any  way  :  2dly,  his  death  would  devolve  upon 
him  by  combat  with  fiuners  ;  in  combat  with  fin,  hell 
and  death  ;  fin  and  fmners  would  caufe  and  occafiom 
all  his  fufferings. 

4th I y -  In  the  combat  would  be  feen  the  ftrength  of 
righteoufnefs  in  its  magnificent  height,  and  the  high 
criminality  of  fin  in  an  awful  contraft. 

^thly.  In  this  combat  is  feen  an  aft  of  the  moft  rich 
and  abounding  forbearance  towards  finners  poffible,  that 
ever  can  take  place  in  the  univerfe  ;  in  the  (offerer  is 
viewed  the  molt  perfeft  refpeft  to  juftice,  truth,  righte¬ 
oufnefs,  mercy  and  grace,  that  ever  can  be  feen  through 
the  vaft  dominions  of  Jehovah,  or  the  divine  attributes 
can  require. 

In  the  condufl  of  the  murderers  of  the  Son  of  God  is 
evinced,  in  the  mod  open  maniieftation,  the  higheft, 
amazing  criminality,  enmity  and  oppofition  to  all 
goodnefs  and  righteoufnefs. 

6thly.  The  fenfe  and  meaning  of  the  court  in  this 
new  conftitution  of  government  is  to  make  a  declara¬ 
tion  of  the  righteoufnefs  of  God  in  bis  divine  law  :  and 
in  the  death  of  Chri ft  to  magnify  the  law,  that  God 
may  declare  his  grace  to  finners,  for  the  righteoufnefs 
iake  of  his  fon,  to  the  praife  and  the  glory  ot  his  grace., 

7thiy.  It  is  not  to  be  viewed  that  the  finner’s  crimes 
deferved  Inch  a  large  quantity  of  punifhment ;  and  fo> 
it  was  meafured  off  to  Chrift,  and  executed  upon  him 
by  juftice  to  get  fatisfa&ion  that  way  :  for  juftice  will 
never  have  any  hand  in  luch  craft  and  tragedy,  if  every 
£aner  goes  to  hell  ;  for  that  would  be  juft  like  the  de- 
G  .  lufioa 


C  14  1 

iufion  that  many  have  been  guilty  of,  in  explaining  the 
folemn  tranfa&ion  ;  what  jultice  had  fatisia&ion  in 
was  the  Faithfulnefs  of  the  fufferer,  that  when  tried  he 
would  die  rather  than  tranfgrefs  the  law  ;  rather  die 
than  do  unjuftly  ;  therefore  Chri ft  honoured  juflice  in 
his  death  ;  he  faithfully  fulfilled  every  condition  ac¬ 
cording  to  his  agreement,  and  truth  was  honoured  by 
him  ;  he  chofe  to  die  under  the  hands  of  the  wicked  ra. 
ther  than  exterminate  all  the  wicked  crowd  to  hell  ; 
therefore  love,  mercy  and  grace  were  honoured  by 
him. 

8th!y.  Wifdom  obferved  that  the  whole  conftitution, 
in  the  deftgn  and  nature  of  it,  is  fo  compiled  and  ftated 
that  neither  the  father,  nor  the  fon  nor  juflice  is  a  pun- 
ifhing  for  fin  any  more  than  they  were  in  giving  the  law 
to  Adam  ;  but  that  there  was  a  covenant  of  conditions 
prefented  to  Chri  ft  the  firft  born  heir  of  all  things; 
and  a  promifed  reward  upon  fulfilment  ;  hence  all  the 
divine  attributes  hold  claims  upon  the  truftee  to  fulfil 
his  engagement,  without  joining  with  wicked  men  and 
devils,  to  load  him  with  a  tenfold  greater  temptation  to 
violate  the  Father’s  will,  than  what  the  wicked  was 
able  to  do. 

Therefore  that  notion  of  men,  that  juflice  undertook 
to  punifh  our  fins  in  Chri  ft,  is  as  great  a  delufion  as 
ever  befel  the  human  mind. 

Moreover,  Wifdom  added,  for  a  full  explanation  of 
the  conftitution,  that  no  one  in  court  had  to  undergo  a 
greater  degree  of  felt  denial,  and  condefcenfion  than 
Juflice,  while  the  wicked  holdthe  faviour  in  their  bloo¬ 
dy  hands  ;  tor  it  is  the  province  of  juflice  to  execute 
vengeance  for  all  criminality,  and  unjuft  cruelty  ;  and 
every  member  of  the  couit  inuft  exercife  the  fame  for¬ 
bearance  ;  tor  every  member  of  the  court  is  of  one  fen- 
timent  and  difpofition  in  the  conftitution  s  and  in  the 
hour  of  Emmanuel’s  fufferings,wi!l  feel  the  mo  ft  pungent 
fympatby  and  commileration  tor  the  fufferer  ever 
known  in  the  univerfe  ;  while  all  the  court  are  facredly 
bound  to  avenge  the  wrong  and  criminality  done  to 
the  Prince  ct  life  on  all  the  rebels  that  do  not  receive 

the 


[  <5  3 

tlie  overture  of  mercy,  and  bow  down  to  Emmanuels 
fceptre  ;  fora  bright,  and  brilliant  difplay  and  raanifef* 
tation  of  the  glory  of  God  wifi  be  made  in  the  difplay 
of  righteoufnefs,  either  in  the  falvation  or  damnation  of 
all  the  guilty  family  of  Adam\s  race,  accordingto  the 
grand  ffandard  of  righteoufnefs  reared  to  view  in  the 
dying  Redeemer;  and  to  add  all  in  one  word  necefifary 
upon  the  divine  conflitution  of  grace,  in  the  death  of 
Emmanuel,  it  is  to  witnefs  to.and  make  a  declaration  of 
the  righteoufnefs  of  the  divine  law  ;  to  witnefs  to  the 
criminality  and  guilt  in  creatures,  in  tranfgrefling 
the  holy  law  of  God  ;  to  witnefs  to  the  righteoufnefs 
of  the  fentence  that  life  fhould  go  for  tranfgreffion  ;  f  or 
the  fon  of  God,  when  tried,  gave  up  the  mofl  valuable 
of  all  lives  rather  than  tranfgrefs  ;  to  witnefs  to  the 
abounding  benevolence  of  God  in  his  willingnefs  that 
finners  fhould  return  to  their  allegiance  upon  an  a 61  of 
righteoufnefs  and  grace  through  his  fon  ;  and  that  par¬ 
don  and  falvation  be  bellowed  upon  them  fovereign  and 
free,  to  the  praife  and  glory  of  righteoufnefs  and  grace  ; 
while  bright  majefly  clothes  the  folemn  feene,  with  an 
awful  mandate  of  a  facred  record,  fealed  and  fent  by 
Eather,  Son  and  Holy  Ghoft,  to  the  rebellious  family 
of  Adam’s  guilty  race  ;  to  bow  the  knee  and  honour 
the  fon  in  a  thankful  reception  of  the  gracious  over, 
ture  ;  and,  for  the  future,  fubmit  to  an  editl  of  law,  that 
he  fhould  give  them,  or  they  fhould  receive  an  aggra¬ 
vated  condemnation  for  their  abufe  of  grace  and  double 
contempt  of  divine  authority  ;  and  the  whole  court 
will  receive  honour  and  renown  by  the  conflitution, 
every  way,  both  as  to  the  form  and  operation  of  it ; 
and  1  can  allure  the  court,  the  one  we  are  about  to  fend 
to  put  the  conflitution  into  execution,  is  completely 
qualified  for  the  undertaking  :  and  Wifdom  added,  let 
a  portrait  of  the  conflitution  be  put  on  record,  and  lent 
to  the  miferable  family  of  criminals  a  fuitable  time  be¬ 
fore  Emmanuel’s  vifit  to  the  habitation  of  the  rebellious 
family;  that  the  divine defigns  of  grace  may  be  known  ; 
that  all  may  be  ready  to  receive  him  with  joy  and 
thankfgiving,  or  be  found  criminally  guilty  for  abufe 
ofigoednefs  and  grace.  Wifdom  faid  no  more  to  ex. 


[  16  3 

plain  the  conftitution;  but  fpoke  to  Emmanuel, who  now 
fat  on  a  throne  of  glorv,  to  Rep  forth  ;  accordingly  he 
did.  She  afked  him  if  the  conftitution  was  explained 
to  his  fatisfafiion  ;  he  faid,  amen  ;  be  pleafed,  faid 
Wifd  om  to  walk  back  and  forth  before  the  Court  ;  he 
obeyed  the  direction,  and  O  !  what  majefly  attended 
bis  footfteps  !  while  beauty  {hone  in  his  countenance 
fatrer  than  the  children  of  men;  ail  the  court  fmiled 
upon  him  with  a  rap  ture  that  cannot  be  defcribed. 

Approbation  was  given  to  him  by  all  the  Court,  it 
was  proclaimed  before  him  with  the  found  ol  a  trum¬ 
pet,  Thou  half  trodden  down  firength  ;  the  o  ort  was 
all  agreed  in  the  conff itution.  and  all  harm  onioufly 
agreed  to  have  it  confirmed  more  unalterably  than  the 
Jaws  of  the  Medes  and  Perftans,  and  fully  be  put  into 
execution  ;  every  divine  attribute  was  fe't  in  harmony  ; 
Mercy  and  1  ruth  met  together  ;  Righteoufnefs  and 
Peace  kiffed  each  other. 

Thus,  Sir,  I  have  Rated  the  difference  betwixt  my 
fentiments  and  yours,  on  the  atonement  of  our  falva- 
tion  ;  if  you  Rill  retain  the  notion  that  atonement  was 
made  by  ju Rice,  punifhing  our  fins  in  ChyiR  for  fatif- 
faflion  ;  I  defpairof  offering  any  thing  to  convi£l  ycur 
mind  of  thepropriety  of  the  other  points  you  faulted  ;  if 
you  receive  the  light  of  the  fcriptures,and  your  mind  is 
fanflified  from  tradition,  on  this  fubjeft  of  atonement, 
it  will  he  as  eafy  to  demonlfrate  to  you  the  New  1  efla- 
ment  authority,  for  the  other  points  you  objected  to,  as 
that  three  and  two  are  five. 

Dear  Brother, 

LiRen  a  moment  to  your  own  Ratement  :  I  have  of¬ 
ten  read  in  books  to  the  grating  of  my  mind,  and  heard 
the  fame  in  preaching  often,  (viz.)  that  ChriR  has  fuf- 
fered  all  the  punifhment  that  was  due  to  frnners  in  their 
room  and  Read  ;  that  ChriR  has  died  in  the  room  and 
Read  of  Tinners  ;  that  our  fins  were  imputed  to  ChriR, 
and  that  he  was  punifhcd  for  them  in  our  room  and 
Read,  according  to  Ari£tjuRice  ;  that  ChriR  has  borne 
the  burden  of  our  fins,  and  differed  the  punifhment  due  * 
iot  them. 


vYou 


[  V  1 

Your  ftatement  is,  in  your  letter,  that  Chrift  by  bis 
obedience  and  death  has  fatisfied  divine  juflice  for  our 
fins  •  the  expreflions  have  one  fignification,  and  one 
of  them  contains  the  whole  ;  therefore,  let  us  look  at 
the  conclufion  of  fuch  a  ffatement.  and  its  proper  fig- 
nification  which  is  as  follows  : 

iff.  In  the  method  God  has  taken  to  fave  finners  he 
has  joined  fellowfhip  with  finners  in  their  wicked, 
felfilh  deceitful  difpofit.'.on  and  conduct. 

2dly.  That  in  order  to  fcreen  finners  from  fufifering 
the  punifhment  of  their  fins  according  to  the  fentence 
of  penalty  denounced  in  the  divine  law  ;  that  he  has 
fhifted  his  charge  again  ft  them  of  criminality  ar.ddefert, 
and  has  imputed  it  to  Chriff,  and  has  punifhed  him  for 
it  according  to  ftrift  juftice  to  full  fatisfafilion. 

3d ly ,  God  has  cleared  the  guilty  and  condemned  the 
innocent. 

4thly.  God  has  been  falfe  to  his  word  of  threatening 
that  the  finner  fhould  die  ;  for  Chrifl  has  died  in  the 
room  and  ftead  of  finners,  and  Juftice  is  fatisfied,  and 
therefore  the  finner  is  in  no  danger  of  meeting  with  a- 
uy  difficulty  for  In's  tranfgre {lions. 

,5thly.  The  felfilh,  wicked  heart  of  the  finner  is 
gratified  to  the  laft  degree  ;  for  Chrifl  has  borne  all  the 
burden  ,  f  his  fins,  and  fuffered  all  the  punifhment  due 
for  them,  in  his  room  and  ftead. 

6 1 h  1  y .  Your  ffatement  denies  that  Chrifl.  made  the 
atonement,  and  certifies  that  Juftice  made  it  in  punifh¬ 
ing  Chrifl. 

7 1 h ! y .  To  charge  finners  that  they  are  under  con¬ 
demnation  for  their  fins,  is  falfe  and  wicked  ;  for  Juf- 
tice  has  made  fatisfaftion  for  them  in  punifhing  Chrift| 
and  therefore  finners  are  the  objefcls  of  the  divine 
complacence. 

8thly.  Juftice  punifhing  our  fins  in'  Chrifl,  or  pun¬ 
ifhing  Chrifl  for  our  fins,  til!  it  was  fatisfied  therefor, 
it  no  ways  wants  to  remove  fin  out  of  the  way  ;  for  in 
regard  of  any  objebt  that  Juftice  is  fatisfied  for,  he  wants 
no  removal  of  it. 

gthly,- Juftice  is  fatisfied  with  finners,  for  their  fins 

have 


r  >8  ] 

have  been  punifhed  to  his  full  fatisfaffion,  and  therefore 
Juflice  wants  no  alteration  in  the  (inner  at  all. 

This  is  the  natural  and  plain  meaning  of  vour  ffate- 
ment,  if  any  form  of  wbrds  have  any  fignification  with 
them;  it  the  premifes  are  allowed  their  meaning,  the 
inferences  are  abfolutely  certain. 

But  thus  it  is  ;  tradition  has  blinded  our  underfland- 
ings,  to  let  forth  the  great  dodfrine  of  the  atonement  of' 
ourfalvation  in  fuch  a  ffatement,  and  in  fuch  a  point 
of  light,  as  caff  the  greateff  difhonour  on  the  divine 
chara&er,  and  is  the  greateff  reproach  to  the  divine 
government,  and  a  reprefentation  which  every  believ¬ 
er’s  foul  abhors.  May  the  Lord  enlighten  our  under- 
ffandings  in  the  myfferies  of  the  kingdom  ;  forgive 
our  miflakes,  turn  Zion’s  captivity,  that  the  watchmen 
may  fee,  eye  to  eye,  that  glory  may  reff  in  the  Zion  of 
God. — I  remain  your  fincere  friend  and  bi other  in  the 
gofpel. 


EBENEZER  BAILEY. 


